Truckers making wrong turn to SDI

A rural Columbia City resident came before the Whitley County Commissioners Monday with a concern about truckers on his road — truckers who don’t belong on that thoroughfare.
Charlie Acheson, who lives on County Road 700 East, said over-the-road truckers travel down his road trying to make their way to Steel Dynamics Industries, Inc.
The problem is, according to Acheson and County Highway Director Michael Barton, you can’t get there from here.
Barton introduced Acheson to the three-man board at Monday’s regular meeting. The two told the commissioners that over-the-road truckers use their Global Positioning System devices to navigate to the steel company, which has a County Road 700 East address.
They added that from where Acheson lives, the road does not continue on to SDI, but has instead a dead end.
Acheson and Barton requested signage that would steer the truckers away from that road and instead direct them to nearby County Road 800 East.
An idea of placing signage on Ind. 14 making truckers aware of the dead end was also discussed. Barton said he is working on coordinating with the state for such signs since that road falls under Indiana jurisdiction.
For any signs placed within the county’s jurisdiction, Barton said his department could handle those.
Acheson told the commissioners that truckers drive down his road and have to turn around when they reach the end of the road. He estimated that on average, this happens about three times a week.
Commissioner Don Amber was concerned that a poorly placed sign on Ind. 14 might cause some traffic problems if truckers aren’t given the proper notice that County Road 800 East is the proper way to the steel mill.
“The paramedic in me is concerned about them doing a U-turn on 14 to go back to 800,” Amber said.
“However it happens, we really want them on 800,” Amber said.
In other business, the commissioners:
•Heard an update on the proposed installation of toll free telephone numbers for various county government offices.
•Approved the purchase of property record cards for use on the county’s Geographic Information System. The cards will contain property information, with the service costing the county an extra $50 each month.